Dr. Farhad Assar Zadegan
Neurologist
Dr. Farhad Assarzadegan, a neurologist, explains about brain tumors and diagnosis and their treatments.
The text of Dr. Assar Zadegan’s speech
Greetings to the esteemed audience of the Noor Charity Institute. I am Dr. Farhad Asarzadegan, a neurologist and faculty member at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Today, I would like to discuss brain tumors, including how to diagnose them, their symptoms, and the available treatments.
First, I would like to categorize brain tumors and explain how they are classified. First and foremost, it is important to note that brain tumors are divided into two main categories: primary and metastatic (secondary) tumors.
Primary tumors originate within the brain itself. Their tissue and origin are within the brain and skull. Metastatic tumors, on the other hand, are tumors that have spread to the brain from elsewhere in the body. They originate from another organ, such as the blood or lymph nodes, and cancerous cells migrate to the brain, where they grow and form tumors. For example, the primary tumor may originate in the kidney, stomach, pancreas, bones, liver, etc. The tumor cells infiltrate into the brain and establish metastatic brain tumors. Metastatic tumors have a different story; they are usually multiple, and as I mentioned, their origin is elsewhere. However, primary tumors, tumors that are related to the brain itself, are also divided into two major categories: extracerebral and intracerebral tumors. When we say a tumor is extracerebral, it means that the tumor does not exist within the brain tissue itself.
It is located in the outer layer of the brain and exerts pressure on the brain. This is because our brain is surrounded by a protective layer called the dura mater. These tumors usually reside in the outer layer of the dura mater and exert pressure on brain tissue. Depending on this pressure, they may cause symptoms.
The tumors of the second category become intracerebral. These are tumors that grow within the brain tissue itself and create their own specific symptoms.
Now, the symptoms caused by brain tumors depend on where the tumor originates and which part of the brain it is growing in. For example, suppose we have extracerebral tumors, one of which is called meningioma. Meningiomas are generally benign tumors and may go unnoticed for years. For example, you may go for an MRI scan for a headache and then realize that you have had a meningioma in your brain for years without knowing it. In contrast, tumors that grow in the brain ventricles, due to increased intracranial pressure and the potential to block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, sometimes manifest with severe and sudden headaches. Because the intracranial pressure increases, they can lead the patient into a coma in severe cases. Therefore, the location of tumors in the brain and the symptoms they may cause vary.
But how do we diagnose them? The best diagnostic method is the use of MRI, both with and without contrast. We use MRI to image and identify both the tumors and their location, as well as to determine their benign or malignant nature. Once we understand which type of tumor we are dealing with, we decide on different treatments for them.
Some tumors can be resolved with simple surgery. Others may require postoperative radiotherapy or chemotherapy. And some tumors, depending on their condition, may lead us to decide not to intervene surgically and instead use medications to reduce swelling.
Thank you. I am glad to have been of service to you.
